Friction particle for brake lining

ABSTRACT

A friction particle, useful in applications where cashew nut shell oil friction particles have been used, may be prepared by the reaction at a temperature from about 225° to about 400° Fahrenheit of a non-oxyalkylated resole with resin selected from the group consisting of an oxyalkylated resole, an alkylated resole, an alkylated novolac, an oxyalkylated novolac, and mixtures thereof until it is insoluble, infusible, and does not soften slightly under mechanical force at temperatures below about 400° Fahrenheit, and has substantially no cohesive or bonding strength.

This is a division of copending application Ser. No. 319,109, filed Dec. 27, 1972, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,873,490, issued Mar. 25, 1975, which is a division of application Ser. No. 188,598, filed Oct. 12, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,781,241, issued Dec. 25, 1973; which is a division of application Ser. No. 872,753, filed Oct. 30, 1969, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,658,751.

This invention relates to novel cured phenolic resins to be used as a friction particle material. It is especially useful where cashew nut shell oil friction particles, called "Cardolite," have been used in the past.

Phenol aldehyde, or hydroxy aromatic-aldehyde condensation products having methylol side or end groups are known in the art as "resoles." They are formed from condensing a phenol with an excess of aldehyde and with an alkaline catalyst, also known as "one-stage" resins and are of the thermosetting type. Except when oxyalkylated, they are self-setting. That is, upon the application of heat there results the formation of a "resite," which is an infusible three-dimensional polymer.

Novolac phenol aldehyde resins, on the other hand, are phenol-ended chain polymers. They are formed by the reaction of an aldehyde with an excess of phenol in the presence of an acid catalyst and/or heat. They are thermoplastic, permanently soluble and fusible. However, upon the addition of a curing agent, they can be cured into an insoluble, infusible resin. Thus, novolac resins are known as "two-stage" resins.

Phenol aldehyde condensation products have been used as binders for abrasive materials. However, to our knowledge, the novel cured phenol aldehyde products of this invention have not been used as a friction particle per se.

As used herein "friction particle" is intended to mean having the properties of substantially no softening at elevated temperatures and will not flow together or cohere with other particles, as a "friction binder" would, or fuse with like friction particles. It is insoluble, having an acetone extraction of less than 35 percent and often less than 5 percent; it is infusible, i.e., has gone beyond the B stage, to the C stage. It will not melt at 700 degrees Fahrenheit. A friction particle is held in place with a friction binder.

As used herein, a "friction binder" has the properties of flowability, and has adhesive and cohesive bonding action and thereby binds together the asbestos and other additives (including a friction particle) necessary for building a brake lining or other similar article of manufacture. The binder, as supplied to the industry, will melt as a dry powder or is a liquid resin, and can be either an A stage or B stage resin. The binder becomes a C stage resin after it is combined with the other ingredients and cured.

This composition of the binder, friction particle and other additives, is heated to about 300°-400° Fahrenheit and pressed at about 500-2000 pounds per square inch in order to form a brake lining composition, or clutch facing or other braking device. Thus, the friction particle is substantially insoluble and infusible, softening only at elevated temperatures (i.e., above about 400°-500° Fahrenheit).

It has now been found that a composition of matter useful as a friction particle can be prepared by the reaction at a temperature from about 225° to about 400° Fahrenheit of a non-oxyalkylated hydroxy aromatic hydrocarbon-aldehyde resole with a resin selected from the group consisting of an oxyalkylated hydroxy aromatic hydrocarbon-aldehyde resole, an alkylated hydroxy aromatic hydrocarbon-aldehyde resole, an alkylated hydroxy aromatic hydrocarbon-aldehyde novolac, an oxyalkylated hydroxy aromatic hydrocarbon-aldehyde novolac, and mixtures thereof, until it is insoluble, infusible, and does not soften slightly under mechanical force, such as a spatula, at temperatures below about 400° Fahrenheit, and has substantially no cohesive or bonding action or strength. The crude material is initially in lump form, which is then ground to the size specification of the customer. The first said resole can be alkylated but not oxyalkylated. Among the preferred embodiments of this invention are the following:

1. The reaction product of between about 5 and about 40 percent by weight of an oxyalkylated resole with between about 95 and about 60 percent by weight of one or more of

a. one or more non-oxyalkylated, non-alkylated resoles,

b. a non-oxyalkylated, alkylated resole,

c. a mixture of a non-oxyalkylated alkylated resole and a non-oxyalkylated, non-alkylated resole,

d. a mixture of a non-oxyalkylated, non-alkylated resole and a non-oxyalkylated alkylated novolac, and

e. a mixture of a non-oxyalkylated, non-alkylated novolac and a non-oxyalkylated, non-alkylated resole.

2. The reaction product of between about 95 and about 60 percent by weight of a non-oxyalkylated, non-alkylated resole with between about 5 and about 40 percent by weight of one or more of

a. an oxyalkylated novolac, and

b. a non-oxyalkylated, alkylated resole.

3. The reaction product of between about 5 and about 40 percent by weight of an oxyalkylated novolac with between about 95 and about 60 percent by weight of one or more of

a. two or more non-oxyalkylated, non-alkylated resoles,

b. an alkylated resole.

c. a mixture of an alkylated resole and a non-oxyalkylated, non-alkylated resole,

d. a mixture of a non-oxyalkylated, non-alkylated resole and a non-oxyalkylated alkylated novolac, and

e. a mixture of a non-oxyalkylated, non-alkylated resole and a non-oxyalkylated, non-alkylated novolac.

4. The reaction product of between about 5 and about 95 percent by weight of a solid, B-stage non-oxyalkylated, alkylated resole, with between about 95 and about 5 percent by weight of a liquid, A-stage, non-oxyalkylated, alkylated resole.

5. The reaction product of between about 70 and about 90 percent by weight of a non-oxyalkylated, alkylated resole, with between about 30 and about 10 percent by weight of a non-oxyalkylated, alkylated novolac.

6. The reaction product of between about 5 and about 50 percent by weight of a non-oxyalkylated, alkylated resole, with between about 5 and about 30 percent by weight of a non-oxyalkylated, alkylated novolac, and with between about 25 and about 90 percent by weight of a non-oxyalkylated, non-alkylated resole.

In general, an oxyalkylated hydroxy aromatic material, whether it is a novolac or a resole, will not react with a novolac by itself. The methylol groups on a resole are believed to be needed to react with the polyol groups of the oxyalkylated materials.

The friction particle is formed by blending and reacting the resole with the novolac, or oxyalkylated resole. Usually, the resole and oxyalkylated resole or oxyalkylated novolac are both liquids, so blending is easily achieved. However, when one is a solid, it is powdered and mixed with the liquid. When both are solids, both are dry blended such as by ball milling together. Then they are mechanically blended, such as by being passed through a hammer mill equipped with a quarter mesh screen.

Following blending, the resins are heated to about 225° Fahrenheit to about 400° Fahrenheit, and preferably from about 325° Fahrenheit to about 375° Fahrenheit, until a resin of friction particle consistency is formed.

Examples of phenols which can be used in preparing a phenol aldehyde resole or novolac for use in practicing the invention include ortho-, para- directing hydroxy or amino aromatic compounds having 6 to 24 carbon atoms such as phenol itself (C₆ H₅ OH), naphthol, anthranol and substituted derivatives thereof where the substitutents on the aromatic compound are independently selected from H, Cl, Br, F, NH₂ and

a. alkyl groups or radicals of 1 to 60 carbon atoms, preferably of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, and their various isomeric forms and substituted on the aromatic nucleus in the ortho or para position;

b. cycloalkyl groups of 5 to 12 carbon atoms such as cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl, methylcyclohexyl, butylcyclohexyl, and so forth;

c. alkyl, aryl and cycloalkyl ketonic groups wherein the hydrocarbon portion is as defined above in (a) and (b);

d. alkyl, aryl and cycloalkyl carboxylic groups wherein the hydrocarbon part is defined as above in (a) and (b);

e. aryl groups of 6 to 24 carbon atoms such as phenyl, naphthyl, anthryl, and the like;

f. aryl substituted alkyl wherein the aryl is phenyl which may contain lower alkyl and/or hydroxy substituents so that the resulting hydroxy aromatic is, for example, a bisphenol; and

g. mixtures of the aforesaid hydroxy aromatics.

Suitable substituted phenols include the following: para-phenyl phenol, para-benzyl phenol, para-beta-naphthyl phenol, cetyl phenol, para-cumyl-phenol, para-tert-butyl phenol, sec-butyl phenol, para-tert-amyl phenol, para-tert-hexyl phenol, para-alpha-naphthyl phenol, para-hydroxyacetophenone, para-hydroxybenzophenone, para-isooctyl phenol, para-tert-octyl phenol, para-cyclohexyl phenol, para-d-limonene phenol, para-l-limonene phenol, a phenol alkylated with oleic acid, such as phenol alkylated with oleic acid, para-decyl phenol, para-dodecyl phenol, para-tert-decyl phenol, butyl naphthol, amyl anthranol, para-nonyl phenol, para-methyl phenol, bisphenols such as para,para'-isopropylidene diphenol, para,para'-methylene diphenol, as well as the corresponding ortho-derivatives of the previously mentioned compounds such as ortho-butyl phenol and ortho-nonyl phenol as well as mixtures thereof, and aniline.

Mixtures of various hydroxy aromatic compounds mentioned herein also may be used.

Included among the phenolic reactants which may be used are those known as the "cresylic acids" and these often comprise a heterogeneous mixture of having two reacting hydrogen positions on each of them; that is, compounds unsubstituted in the ortho- and para- positons of the molecule, to compounds that only have one functional position, and hence, relatively unreactive. These compounds may include the following: 3,5-xylenol, m-cresol, 3,4-xylenol, 2,5-xylenol, 2,3-xylenol, phenol, p-cresol, orthocresol, 2,4-xylenol, and 2,6-xylenol. Cresylic acids or tar acids are generally applied to phenol and its homologs which may include cresols, xylenols, trimethyl phenols, ethyl phenols, and higher boiling materials such as dihydroxy phenols, polycyclic phenols and the like. They are often obtained by a low-temperature trimerization of coal, lignite, and the like, or a conventional high-temperature coke oven tar, or the liquid product of petroleum cracking both thermo and catalytic, shell oil, coal hydric hydrogenation products, and the like.

Polyhydroxy aromatic reactants, such as resorcinol, may also be used.

Particularly useful in this invention are mixtures of aniline and phenol to react with an aldehyde or ketone to produce either a novolac or a resole, depending on the other conditions described above.

Also useful in the invention are mixtures of urea and phenol to react with the aldehyde or ketone to produce either a novolac or a resole depending on the other conditions described above.

Among the aldehydes which may be used within the scope of this invention to produce either the resole or the novolac, are formaldehyde or any of its variations, such as 37 percent formalin concentration or paraaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, isobutyraldehyde, isopentaldehyde, and the like. The aldehyde should have not more than 8 carbon atoms should not detrimentally affect the resinification or oxyalkylation of the resin. Preferred aldehydes are those having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, such as formaldehyde, which may be in aqueous solution (37 percent), or in any of its low polymeric forms such as paraform or trioxane. Other aldehydes include para-aldehydes, furfural, 2-ethyl-hexanal, ethylbutyraldehyde, heptaldyde, and glyoxal, benzaldehyde and crotonaldehyde.

NOVOLACS

To prepare a novolac, the proportion of aldehyde to be condensed with the hydroxy aromatic compound may be varied in order to obtain different molecular weights, and the viscosity of the finished resin may be controlled by the mole weight of the novolac; preferably the proportion of aldehyde employed is from 0.5 to 1.0 per mole of the hydroxy aromatic compound.

Among the substituted phenols which may be used to prepare the novolacs for this invention are those substituted with long-chain ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbons, such as the linseed-type oils. However, it is within the scope of this invention to employ any animal and/or vegetable oil which achieves the objects of this invention based on the similarity in properties with the long-chain hydrocarbon oils. Such oils would be positoned on the phenol in the ortho- or para- positions, and preferably in the para- position. Many of them are similar in properties to linseed oil having non-conjugated unsaturation of at least 50 iodine number, and have sufficient compatibility with the novolac after it is polymerized. Safflower oil is typical of these oils. It may be in the form of a glycerol ester of the fatty acids wherein the fatty acids are of a composition comprising more than 40 percent by weight of linolenic acid. The remaining percentages of fatty acid can be any saturated or ethylenically unsaturated fatty acid having 12 to 22 carbon atoms and more preferably oleic and linolenic acid so that the fatty esters have an iodine number of at least 50. The iodine value (iodine number) is a measure of unsaturation, and is defined as the number of grams of iodine required per 100 grams of unsaturated material to obtain the saturated material. In addition to the preferred glycerol ester, other polyhydric alcohols can be reacted with the described fatty acids to produce a low acid number ester of a polyol having 2 or more hydroxyl groups. Typical polyols include ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, sorbitol and the other polyhydric alcohols.

The acid catalyst to be used when preparing the novolacs to be used in this invention may be chosen from oxalic acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid and other strong acids used in the art for preparing novolacs. In addition, wetting agents of the anionic type, such as sodium alkylaryl sulfonates, are also useful as secondary catalysts in preparing novolacs.

The two-stage resins are curable by reaction with hexamethylene tetramine to form dibenzyl and tribenzyl amines, as well as hexatriphenol. One may also use ammonium hydroxide, which reacts with the formaldehyde to form hexamethylene tetramine. Other amines may also be used, such as ethylene diamine or ethylene triamine, or methylamines, etc. These can be used to react with formaldehyde to form a composition similar to hexamethylene tetramine. The resulting compound would be an aldehyde donor.

The phenol aldehyde novolac type resin is prepared by charging the desired phenol and aldehyde raw materials and catalysts to a reaction vessel. The reaction begins at about 100° centigrade and proceeds under temperatures up to about 200° centigrade, at any pressure up to about 100 lbs/square inch gauge for about one and one-half hours, or until the desired degree of polymerization has taken place. Thereafter, the catalyst is neutralized where necessary, and the excess reactant, water, and other materials are taken off by dehydration and the molten resin is discharged from the vessel. It has been found that a novolac which has not been neutralized and is stable will cure more rapidly with a resole than a novolac which has been neutralized.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that many hydroxy aromatic compounds may be used in practicing the present invention to provide a novolac which can be then reacted with an hydroxy aromatic aldehyde resole to form the friction particle of this invention, provided the aromatic hydroxyl group is reactive and the hydroxy aromatic compound is capable of reacting with an aldehyde or a mixture of aldehydes to produce a novolac condensate. Pure, refined phenols may be used, but this is not necessary. For instance, phenols may be alkylated and then may be reacted in crude form with an aldehyde. In such crude form, the phenols may contain some polyalkylated, as well as non-alkylated, phenols.

The process for alkylation of a phenol is well-known in the art. First, dehydration (of water) is carried out with vacuum at elevated temperatures, for instance, between about 100 and about 150° centigrade under a vacuum of between about 20 and about 30 inches of mercury. Then, the dehydrated phenolic material is acidified to a pH of between about 1 and about 5 with H₂ SO₄ or in some cases BF₃. Following this, a terpene or vegetable oil is added and the reaction mixture heated to between about 80° and about 140° centigrade at atmospheric pressure. The molar ratio of reactants is between about 0.1 mole of terpene or vegetable oil per mole of phenol to about 2.5 mole of terpene or vegetable oil per mole of phenol. When tung oil is employed as a vegetable oil in the alkylation, use of BF₃ to acidify would cause gelation, so it is not used, but H₂ SO₄ can be used.

The proportion of aldehyde to be condensed with the hydroxy aromatic compound to form a precondensate may be varied to prepare novolacs of different molecular weights. Viscosity of the finished precondensate may be controlled by the mole weight of the novolac. Preferably, the proportion of aldehyde employed varies from about 0.5 to 1.0 mole per mole of phenol when a mono- or difunctional phenol is used. In instances where a trifunctional phenol is used, i.e., unsubstituted in the ortho- and para- positions, a preferred upper limit of the aldehyde may be about 0.70 mole of aldehyde per mole of phenol so as to minimize the formation of insoluble, infusible condensates. It is preferred that the aldehyde and phenol be condensed using an acid catalyst to shorten the time required for complete condensation of the reactants. Suitable acid catalysts include sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and oxalic acid. These catalysts are generally employed in the amount of 0.1 to about 5 percent by weight of phenol to be condensed.

Where a mixed aldehyde, phenol-aldehyde precondensate is to be prepared, it is formulated by charging the desired phenol and aldehyde raw materials and catalysts to a reaction vessel. The reaction proceeds under temperatures from about 25° to about 150° centigrade at a pressure from about ambient up to about 100 pounds per square inch gauge pressure for a period of time from about 5 minutes to about 5 hours, a suitable time being about one and one-half hours, or until the desired degree of condensation has taken place. The phenol is first reacted with the longer-chain aldehyde to form a phenol-longer chain aldehyde precondensate, followed by a second-step reaction of the phenol-longer chain aldehyde precondensate with formaldehyde to form a thermosettable phenol aldehyde precondensate material. In the second step, the reactants are refluxed at atmospheric pressure, although higher reflux temperatures up to about 150° centigrade can be used by employing elevated pressure. The formaldehyde can be added all at once in the second step, or added gradually. If the formaldehyde is added all at once, then a temperature range between about 50° and about 60° centigrade is used at the beginning of the second-step reaction, until the exothermic reaction subsides, and then the temperature is increased slowly to between about 70° and about 80° centigrade and held until further exothermic reaction subsides, and then the reaction mixture is heated to reflux temperature which is about 100° centigrade at atmospheric pressure. If elevated pressure is used, then the reflux temperature can be increased to as high as about 140° centigrade. If the formaldehyde is added gradually in the second step, then a temperature range between about 95° and about 140° centigrade can be used. The catalyst is then neutralized and the excess reactant, water and other materials are taken off.

While the precondensate is still at an elevated temperature, from about 25° to about 150° centigrade, but below the boiling point of the resultant solution or supension, with about 100 degrees centigrade being very suitable, it may be reduced in viscosity by addition of suitable solvent. The amount of solvent may vary from about 10 to 70 percent of the precondensate by weight and a suitable ratio of precondensate to solvent is about 10 parts of precondensate to 9 parts of solvent. The controlling factor is the resulting viscosity of the precondensate prepared, rather than the actual volume of solvent charged. Among the solvents which may be used for this purpose are ethanol, methanol, toluene, xylene, ketones, such as acetone, and methylethyl ketone, and mixtures of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as mixtures of benzene and mineral spirits, or benzene and acetone.

OXYALKYLATION

Oxyalkylated resins are prepared which preferably contain substantially no free reactive hydroxy aromatic groups, for example, less than about 0.5 percent of the aromatic hydroxyl present originally in the hydroxy aromatic or hydroxy aromatic aldehyde condensate. To remove the aromatic hydroxys, the hydroxy aromatic aldehyde resin can be reacted with a compound which etherifies the aromatic hydroxyl groups so that almost all of the aromatic hydroxy groups present in each hydroxy aromatic aldehyde condensate unit are so reacted.

The preferred method of hydroxyalkylation is by reaction with compounds containing a mono-orirane ring. Such compounds include ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, styrene oxide and cyclohexane oxide, glycidol and epichlorohydrin. Many other monoepoxides can be used, but the alkylene oxides containing not more than 6 carbons are generally preferred. Additional useful compounds are phenyl glycidyl ether and related compounds prepared from the reaction of epichlorohydrin and monofunctional alkylated and halogenated phenols such as pentachlorophenyl glycidyl ether.

Catalysts for the reaction of the oxirane ring compounds and phenolic hydroxyl groups may be alkali or alkaline earth hydroxides primary amines, secondary amines, tertiary amines or basic alkali salts. These include sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium and barium hydroxides, amines such as methyl, dimethyl, diethyl, trimethyl, triethyl, tripropyl, dimethyl benzyl, dimethyl hydroxyethyl, dimethyl-2-hydroxypropyl and the like, and salts of strong bases and weak acids such as sodium acetate and benzoate.

The reaction may be carried out at temperatures of about room temperature to 250° centigrade, and preferably in the absence of solvents, although solvents may be used to reduce viscosity when desired. When oxyalkylating resoles, the reaction should be carried out at lower temperatures than when oxyalkylating novolacs, because there is a possibility that reaction of the methylol groups with other methylol groups gives methylene linkages, formaldehyde and gelation. When oxyalkylating a novolac, temperatures between room temperature and about 200° centigrade can be used. When oxyalkylating a resole, temperatures between room temperature and about 100° centigrade may be used.

The aromatic hydroxyl of the novolacs may also be hydroxyalkylated by reacting alkylene halohydrins with the aromatic hydroxyl using equivalent amounts of an alkali metal hydroxide to bring about the reaction. Suitable alkylene halohydrins are ethylene chloro- and bromohydrins, propylene chloro- and bromohydrins, 2,3-butylene chloro- and bromohydrins, and glyceryl chloro- and bromohydrins.

Another method for hydroxyalkylating novolacs is reaction with alkylene carbonates such as ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate, using a catalyst such as potassium carbonate.

At least one mole of alkylene oxide or other etherifying or esterifying agent is required per mole of aromatic hydroxyl. However, resins prepared by reaction with up to 7 moles of alkylene oxides per mole of phenolic hydroxyl have been found to be useful.

RESOLES

The liquid one-stage resin (resole) which forms a part of this invention may be formed by reacting an hydroxy aromatic compound with an excess of formaldehyde in alkali such as sodium hydroxide dissolved in water. The reaction mixture is gradually heated to reflux and held at reflux until less than about 1 percent of free formaldehyde remains. This provides a preferred reaction product which has less than 2 percent of the formaldehyde unreacted, although this is not critical in this process. Less than 2 percent free CH₂ O is desirable. The reaction mixture is then cooled and the catalyst neutralized with some acid such as glacial acetic acid and the pH is adjusted to roughly 6 to 7.5. The reaction mixture may be then further reacted with hexamethylene tetramine or some other aldehyde donor, i.e., curing agent. The resin is then dehydrated to between about 50 to 95 percent solids, and preferably between about 81 to 85 percent solids.

The alkaline catalyst used in preparing the resoles to be used in this invention may be any of those known in the art; for instance, sodium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide. In general, the alkali metal hydroxides and the alkaline earth metal hydroxides and ammonium hydroxide and the amines such as triethanol amines may be used.

Following the intercondensation reaction to form a resole, a stoichiometric quantity of a strong acid such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid or oxalic acid, or the like, is added to the reaction mixture in order to neutralize the alkaline condensation catalyst. Sulfuric acid is conveniently employed to neutralize a sodium hydroxide catalyst. The alkaline catalyst may also be neutralized by dilution through repeated washing, however, it is preferred to use an acid. The final resin should have a pH between about 5.5 and 7.5 for good stability.

The hydroxy aromatic compound employed in a resole can be alkylated, if desired, with alkyl groups containing 1 to 12 carbon atoms, or with unsaturated groups, including the long-chain unsaturated vegetable or animal oils, to form alkylated hydroxy aromatic compounds that when reacted with an aldehyde form "heat reactive" resoles. These include alkylene groups of 2 to 36 carbon atoms, fatty acids, polyethers, alkyl ethers, polyesters and polyols and mixtures of these.

Among the high molecular weight or polymeric materials containing aliphatic carbon-to-carbon unsaturation, there are included such naturally occurring materials as unsaturated vegetable, fish or animal oils such as linseed, soya, tung, sesame, sunflower, cotton seed, herring, menhaden, and sardine oils, etc., or chemically modified naturally occurring materials such as allyl ethers of starch, cellulose or acrylate esters thereof, etc., synthetic drying oils, polymers obtained by polyetherification of such unsaturated compounds such as maleic, fumaric, itaconic, aconitic, chloromaleic, dimerized fatty acids, anhydrides or acids from allyl glycerol, methallyl glycerol ether, glycerol monoacrylate, butene diol, pentene diol, or polymers obtained by polyetherification of the unsaturated polyols. Other oils include castor oil, tall oil, oiticica oil, safflower oil, and the like, oleic and linolenic acids. These fatty acids have from 12 to 22 carbon atoms. They are often in combination as a glycerol ester or in combination with other polyhydric alcohols or polyols such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, sorbitol, and the like polyhydric alcohols.

The blending and reacting of the resole with the other components in accordance with this invention may be in various proportions, depending upon the ultimate properties desired in the friction particle to be produced, but will generally be in the range of about 60 to about 95 weight percent of the non-oxyalkylated resole based on the total weight of resin components.

It is to be understood that the oxyalkylated resole or oxyalkylated novolac described herein will not be a friction particle alone unless reacted with a non-oxyalkylated, non-alkylated resole resin or with a non-oxyalkylated, alkylated resole resin. The oxyalkylated resole product is a liquid and will not cure. The preferred compositions of the invention contain at least one of an oxyalkylated resole and an oxyalkylated novolac in combination with the non-oxyalkylated resole.

The friction particle of this invention may be used alone or with other friction materials known in the art. A typical friction element contains about 30 to 60 weight percent asbestos fiber, up to 40 weight percent other inorganic filler and abrasives, about 5 to 15 weight percent organic filler, including the particle of this invention, and about 15 to 30 weight percent binder; all percents are by weight of total composition. Asbestos fiber, other abrasive materials and filler materials are charged into a mixer followed by the addition of a binder, such as a varnish material. The materials are kneaded until the fiber, abrasives, and any fillers are thoroughly wetted and a uniform mass is obtained. The mass is discharged from the mixer, rolled out into sheets or extruded or pressure molded and dried, after which it is ready for further processing into friction elements.

The abrasives, that is, the friction imparting agents and fillers, which may be used in addition to the abrasive material disclosed and claimed herein, within the scope of this invention include, but are not limited to brass chips, metal shavings and filings, silica, talc, wood flour, chalk, clay, mica, fiber glass, felt, carbon black, graphite, metal nitrides and oxides, and ground cashew nut shell oil polymerizate. These abrasives and fillers may be used in addition to the friction particle of this invention to achieve the particular amount of bulk and coefficient of friction desired. Some consumer specifications specify that the friction particle should be 90 percent finer than 20 mesh and coarser than 100 mesh. Other consumer specifications call for coarser or finer friction particles.

The following examples are given to further illustrate the invention. Unless otherwise indicated, all parts are by weight and temperatures in degrees centigrade.

EXAMPLE 1 PART A (The Resole)

A reaction vessel is charged with 100 parts of phenol, 5 parts of cresylic acid, 110 parts of formalin (37 percent formaldehyde) and 1.0 part of flake caustic dissolved in 4 parts of water. This reaction mixture is heated gradually to reflux and held at reflux to less than 5 percent free formaldehyde and cooled to 70° centigrade, after which 1.5 parts of glacial acetic acid is added which neutralizes this composition to a pH of 6.8-7.2. After the pH range is achieved the resin is dehydrated to 81-85 percent solids and cooled to room temperature. The resultant product is a viscous liquid, and is identified as resin Ra in Table V.

PART B (The Oxyalkylated Novolac)

The oxyalkylated novolac may also be referred to as a polyol of a novolac which is oxyethylated, using from about one mole to about 7 moles of ethylene oxide to 1 mole of phenol, depending on the properties desired. For this Example, a resin was used with a ratio of 2 moles of ethylene oxide to one mole of phenol.

A typical modified phenol-aldehyde condensation product is prepared by introducing 3,000 parts phenol, 13 parts of oxalic acid catalyst and 6 parts of a wetting agent of Nacconol (sodium alkylaryl sulfonate) into a jacketed reactor and heating to 100° centigrade. (The anionic wetting agents of alkylaryl sulfonate type are preferred.) Then 1,110 parts of a 37 percent aqueous formaldehyde solution are added to the reactor at a rate that the heat of reaction provides a vigorous reflux. Refluxing is continued for 2 hours after the completion of the formalin addition. The reactor contents are dehydrated at 180° centigrade and then dephenolated at 200° centigrade at 50 millimeters vacuum. Approximately 2,030 parts of phenol-aldehyde condensate are produced. Then 7.2 parts of sodium hydroxide are introduced to the reactor. Ethylene oxide is then added to the reactor as either a vapor or a liquid. The reactor temperature is maintained at 190° centigrade for the initial 2 hours and is then permitted to increase to the range of 200° to 220° centigrade until the addition of 878 parts of ethylene oxide is complete. The resulting condensation product had a hydroxyl number of 370, and a Gardner viscosity at 50° centigrade of about 2,000 seconds, and is resin Nf in Table VI.

The novel friction particle is made by blending 60 parts of Part A with 40 parts of Part B, curing 8-16 hours at 325° to 375° Fahrenheit, grinding to the desired screen size necessary for a friction particle useful in the arts. In this particular Example, the blend was cured for 16 hours at 350° Fahrenheit and ground to 20 mesh. The resulting particle was made up into a brake lining, tested by standard procedures and found to be satisfactory for this use.

EXAMPLE 2

70 parts of Part A and 30 parts of Part B of example 1 were blended and reacted, using the same curing cycle as in Example 1. The resulting product was ground to 20 mesh and found to be superior to a polymerized cashew nut shell oil friction particle known as "Cardolite" in the trade, having softening properties at 500° Fahrenheit when compressed slightly with an 8 inch spatula (5/8 inch wide by 4 inch long × 1/32 inch thick blade). Also the heat loss at 700° Fahrenheit was lower than that of Cardolite.

EXAMPLE 3

80 parts of Part A and 20 parts of Part B of Example 1 were blended and reacted, using the same curing cycle as in Example 1. The resulting product was ground to 20 mesh and had properties similar to those of the product of Example 2.

The particles obtained in the above Examples 1, 2 and 3 were superior to friction particles made from polymerized cashew nut shell oil commonly called "Cardolite," presently used as friction particles in the brakelining industry. The particles made in accordance with the invention are less subject to migration of components which results in brake linings with better "fade" characteristics. The particles of the invention are more heat resistant and can be made with more uniform quality, with better control of end properties. The particles are less toxic to the skin than Cardolite, which has the further disadvantage of being solely available from foreign sources. The products of the invention can also be made at lower cost.

EXAMPLE 4

The friction particle (7 parts) of Example 1 was used in formulating a mixture comprising 62.37 parts of Dry Mix, 0.63 part of hexamethylenetetramine, 16.4 parts of varnish, 20 parts of rubber solvent (mainly mineral spirits) and 0.6 part water. The Dry Mix is composed of 93 parts by weight of asbestos shorts, Quebec Standard Asbestos Grade 7K, and 7 parts by weight of the friction particles. The moisture content of the Dry Mix is held low between 0.75 and 1.0 percent to avoid any possibility of blistering of the element during cure.

To an internal mixer equipped with a Sigma-type blade were charged the Dry Mix and hexamethylenetetramine. The dry materials were mixed and blended for 5 minutes. Then the varnish and toluene were added and mixed for 1 hour until the mass was uniform. The dough-like mix was then discharged from the mixer and charged to an extruder. The extruder is equipped with a 2 inch by 1/4 inch rectangular die and has an applied ram pressure of 100 to 300 pounds per square inch. The dough-like mix was then extruded in a shape which was satisfactory for brake linings. The extruded linings were oven dried for 3 hours and with a gradual increase of temperature up to about 88° centigrade to remove solvents and other volatiles. The linings were then cut to proper length, reheated for 2 to 3 minutes at about 163° centigrade, bent or arched to the desired curvature and placed into forms (i.e., molds) for curing. These linings were then cured for 8 hours at about 205° centigrade. The cured linings after cooling were expanded to the proper size for mounting into brake shoes. The resulting friction elements were found to be satisfactory for use on automobile brakes.

EXAMPLES 5-12

In Table I, Examples 5-12 are shown in tabular form. In each of these Examples, (except Examples 10, 11 and 12) the resins were weighed into a beaker and mechanically mixed. The mix was spread into a aluminum pans (2 1/2 inches by 7 inches) and cured in an air-circulating oven at the specified temperature and time. The formulations for the resoles and novolacs used are given in Tables V and VI, respectively. Example 10 is a repeat of Example 2. In Example 11, a "Cardolite" NC-104-20 sample of cashew nut shell oil friction particles is given for comparison purposes. In Example 12, since both resins are liquids, the materials were mixed in a 15 gallon kettle. In all other respects, however, the procedures and equipment were the same as the other Examples in Table I.

                                      TABLE I                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Example               Weight                                                                              Cure                                                                               Cure                                                                              Volatile                                                                            Acetone                                                                               Hot Plate Behavior at            Number                                                                              Resole   Novolac Ratio                                                                               Temp.                                                                              Time                                                                              Loss Extractable                                                                           500°F - Spatula                                                         Test                                      Resin   Resin                                                                               Resole/                                                  Wt.      Formula                                                                             Wt.                                                                               Formula                                                                             Novolac                                                                             °C                                                                          Hrs.                                                                              %    %                                       __________________________________________________________________________     5    195 Rc   15 Na   90/10                                                                               175 16 11.93                                                                               2.07   Smoky, softens slightly                                                        under                                                                          spatula pressure                  6*  195 Rc   15 Na   90/10                                                                               175 16 14.3 3.14   Smoky, softens slightly                                                        under                                                                          spatula pressure                 7    225 Rf   15 Na   90/10                                                                               175 16 22.7 13.66  Very smoky, softens                                                            slightly,                                                                      color change                     8    162 Rc   45 Nd   70/30                                                                               175 16 13.6 25.61  Smoky, changes to a wet,                                                       oily                                                                           mass - soft                      9    225 Rf   15 Nd   90/10                                                                               175 16 17.9 11.52  Smoky, softens slightly          10   140 Ra   60 Nf   70/30                                                                               120 16 24.9 21.65  Smoky, very slight                                                             softening,                                                                     color change                     11   Cardolite NC-104-20 Cashew Nut Shell Oil Friction Particles                                                 25.9 2.59   Very smoky, softens                                                            slightly, -    oily odor,                                                      particle breakdown               12   140 Rg   60 Nf   70/30                                                                               120 22 17.27                                                                               3.63   Smoky, slight softening,                                                       color                                                                          change                           __________________________________________________________________________      *2.4 grams of hexamethylene tetramine were also added into the mix.            Notes:                                                                         Weights are in grams                                                           Volatile loss is at 700°F for one hour                                  Acetone extractable test is ASTM D-494-46                                      All materials tested were ground through 20 mesh                               Ratio is of resin solid content                                          

The results presented in Table I indicate that the commercial Cardolite friction particle has a high volatile loss when heated at 700° Fahrenheit for one hour, a low acetone extractable content and deteriorated when heated to 500° Fahrenheit on a hot plate. By contrast, the products of the invention were more stable at elevated temperatures. The results also exhibit the control over properties that is possible with compositions of the invention. Thus, a low acetone extractable content indicates a hard material, a high acetone extractable content indicates a softer material.

EXAMPLES 15-27

In Table II, Examples 15-27 are shown in tabular form. The procedure used is set forth in the footnote of Table II. The formulations for the resoles and novolacs used are given in Tables V and VI, respectively.

                                      TABLE II                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Example                                                                             Resole Novolac                                                                               Ratio    Volatile                                                                            Acetone Hot Plate Behavior at                 Number                                                                              Formulation                                                                           Formulation                                                                           Resole/Novolac                                                                          Loss, %                                                                             Extractable, %                                                                         500°F - Spatula                __________________________________________________________________________                                              Test                                  15   Rg     --     --       7.51 0.0     No smoking or softening               16   Ra     --     --       6.29 0.0     No smoking or softening               17   Re     Nf     70/30    36.72                                                                               2.29    Slight softening-slight smoking       18   Rc & Rd                                                                               Nf     70/30    25.92                                                                               3.70    Slight softening-no smoking           19   Rg     Ng     70/30    8.17 0.03    No smoking or softening               20   Ra     Ng     70/30    10.23                                                                               1.68    Slight softening                      21   Rg     Nh     80/20    7.23 0.0     Slight softening                      22   Ra     Nh     80/20    7.00 0.18    Slight softening                      23   Rg     Ne     70/30    6.60 0.67    Slight smoking, no softening          24   Rc     Hycar 1561                                                                            90/10    9.35 0.49    Very smoky, melts and turns                                                    Rubbery                                           Latex                                                              25   Rb & Rc                                                                               Nf     70/30    18.35                                                                               0.58    No smoking, no softening              26   Rg     Nc     80/20    7.0  4.34    Slight smoking, slight                                                         softening                             27   Ra     Nc     70/30    6.45 0.60    Slight smoking, no                    __________________________________________________________________________                                              softening                              Notes:                                                                         All components were weighed into a beaker (200 grams total mix) and            mechanically mixed. The mix was spread into aluminum pans (21/2" ×       7") and cured in an air circulation oven at 175°C for 16 hours.         Acetone extractable test is ASTM                                               Volatile loss is at 700°F for one                                       All materials tested were ground through 20 mesh                         

EXAMPLES 28-46

In Table III, Examples 28-46 are shown in tabular form. They are presented to illustrate the variation in results obtainable from Example 12 (varied in Examples 28-41) and Example 14 (varied in Examples 42-46). Thus, this invention provides a means of producing friction particles of variable properties, thereby permitting more flexibility in the supply of friction particle products to the industry.

                                      TABLE III                                    __________________________________________________________________________     VARIATIONS ON EXAMPLES 12 AND 14 IN TABLE I                                    Ex.                                                                               Resole                                                                              Novolac   Cure Time                                                                             Cure Temp.                                                                           Volatile                                                                              Acetone                                  No.                                                                               Form-                                                                               Form-                                                                               Ratio                                                                               Hours  °C                                                                            Loss, %                                                                               Extractable, %                                                                         Comments                            ulation                                                                             ulation                                                                __________________________________________________________________________     28 Ra   Nf   70/30                                                                               1      200   9.4    23.58   Mixed under vacuum while                                                       heating from 85°C to                                                    105°C.                                                                  Hot plate cure - 59 sec.         29 Ra   Nf   70/30                                                                               16     120   21.4   28.59   Mixed under vacuum while                                                       heating from 85°C to                                                    105°C.                                                                  Hot plate cure - 72/77                                                         sec.                             30 Ra   Nf   60/40                                                                               16     120   16.96  41.8    Mixed under vacuum while                                                       heating from 85°C to                                                    90°C.                                                                   Hot plate cure - 101/106                                                       sec.                             31 Ra   Nf   70/30                                                                               16     120   14.0   24.5    Mixed under vacuum while                                                       heating from 85°C to                                                    105°C.                                                                  Hot plate cure - 46/51                                                         sec.                             32 Ra   Nf   70/30                                                                               2      200   14.2   32.63   Resins physically mixed          33 Ra   Nf   70/30                                                                               5      180   19.7-21.8                                                                             17.5-22.4                                                                              Hot plate cure - 55/60                                                         sec.                             34 Ra   Nf   70/30                                                                               4      180   12.5-15.0                                                                             22.2-23.8                                                                                 --                            35 Ra   Nf   70/30                                                                               0.1    440   23.5-25.1                                                                             8.65-12.33                                                                             Resins physically mixed           36*                                                                              Ra   Nf   70/30                                                                               0.05   440   27.4   15.67   Resins physically mixed          37 Ra   Nf   70/30                                                                               5 min. 600°F                                                                         23.6   19.45   Resins physically mixed          38 Ra   Nf   70/30                                                                               6 min. 600°F                                                                         24.8   17.76   Resins physically mixed          39 Ra   Nf   70/30                                                                               7 min. 600°F                                                                         25.1   17.47   Resins physically mixed          40 Ra   Nf   70/30                                                                               8 min. 600°F                                                                         24.4   15.62   Resins physically mixed          41 Ra   Nf   70/30                                                                               10 min.                                                                               600°F                                                                         24.0   15.09   Resins physically mixed          42 Rg   Nf   70/30                                                                               3 min. 600°F                                                                         22.5   5.45    Resins physically mixed          43 Rg   Nf   70/30                                                                               2 min. 600°F                                                                         23.3   10.34   Resins physically mixed          44 Rg   Nf   70/30                                                                               4 min. 600°F                                                                         22.0   7.61    Resins physically mixed          45 Rg   Nf   70/30                                                                               5 min. 600° F                                                                        21.6   7.02    Resins physically mixed          46 Rg   Nf   70/30                                                                               8 min. 600°F                                                                         21.9   4.81    Resins physically                __________________________________________________________________________                                                   mixed                             *Experiments 28-35 were tested for volatile loss at 600°F for 2         hours and acetone extractable for 16 hours (ASTM                               Experiments 36-46 were tested for volatile loss at 700°F for 1 hou      and acetone extractable for 4 hours (ASTM D-494-46)                      

EXAMPLES 47-62

In Table IV, Examples 47-62 are shown in tabular form. They are presented to further illustrate the variation in resoles and novolacs which can be employed to produce a friction particle. The procedure used was the same as that in Examples 5-9 of Table I.

                                      TABLE IV                                     __________________________________________________________________________                  Oxyalkylated                                                      Ex.                                                                               Resole                                                                              Novolac                                                                            Resin       Percent  Percent     Hot Plate Behavior                No.                                                                               Form-                                                                               Form-                                                                              Formulation                                                                           Ratio                                                                               Volatile Loss                                                                           Acetone Extractable                                                                        At 500°F                      ulation                                                                             ulation                                                                __________________________________________________________________________     47 Rg   --  Rj     70/30                                                                               21.19    15.83       Slight smoke - very slight                                                     softening                         48 Rf   --  Rj     70/30                                                                               31.71    0.11        Smoky - softens - odor -                                                       oily                                                                           appearance - slight caking        49 Rg & Rf                                                                             --  Rj     35/35/30                                                                            26.28    31.47       Smoky - slight softening -                                                     odor                              50 Rg & Rh                                                                             --  Rj     35/35/30                                                                            22.77    24.05       Slight smoke - slight                                                          softening                                                                      slight odor                       51 Rg   Nd  Rj     15/15/70                                                                            14.43    15.24       Smoky - softens - odor -                                                       oily -                                                                         cakes                             52 Rg   Nb  Rj     70/15/15                                                                            11.57    0.89        Very slight smoke - very                                                       slight                                                                         softening                         53 Rg & Rf                                                                             --  --     60/40                                                                               10.51    0.97        No smoke - very slight                                                         softening                         54 Rf   --  Nf     80/20                                                                               20.13    32.99       Smoky - slight softening -                                                     odor - oily                       55 Rg & Rf                                                                             --  Nf     40/40/20                                                                            16.51    6.59        Slight smoke - slight                                                          softening                         56 Rg & Rh                                                                             --  Nf     35/35/30                                                                            17.88    13.50       Slight smoke - very slight                                                     softening                         57 Rg   Nd  Nf     70/10/20                                                                            13.67    7.30        Slight smoke - softens -                                                       very                                                                           oily - cakes                      58 Rg   Nb  Nf     70/10/20                                                                            12.26    0.32        No smoke - slight softening       59 Rf & Ri                                                                             --  --     60/40                                                                               10.92    15.96       Slight smoke - softens -                                                       slightly oily - slight                                                         caking                            60 Rf   Nd  --     80/20                                                                               12.56    18.58       Slight smoke - slight                                                          softening -                                                                    slightly oily                     61 Rf & Rg                                                                             Nd  --     20/70/10                                                                             9.18    7.01        Smoky - softens - oily -                                                       slight                                                                         caking 2/3-                       62 Cardolite NC-104-20 Cashew Nut Shell Oil Friction Particles                                                              Smoky - very slight                                                            softening -                                                                    slight odor                       __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE V                                      __________________________________________________________________________                    Resole Resin Formulations                                                      Resin                                                           Raw Material   a    b    c    d    e   f   g   h   i    j*                     __________________________________________________________________________     Acetic Acid    0.18                0.04                                        Alcohol                                28.90                                   Ammoniacal Liquor                                                                             0.78                    2.43                                    Aniline             4.86                                                       Casein                   1.66                                                  Caustic Soda   0.15      0.38      0.36        0.17                                                                               2.14                        Citric Acid                        0.18                                        Deodorant                          0.01                                        Formaldehyde (37.2%)                                                                          47.36                                                                               54.41                                                                               49.44                                                                               50.74                                                                               48.44                                                                              29.00                                                                              56.91                                                                              45.09                                                                              24.45                                                                               180                    Hexamethylene tetramine                                                                       1.18                                                            Lime                0.71                   0.81                                Melamine (Buffered)           12.31                                            Meta-Para Cresol                                                                              1.78                                                            Methanol                                       1.65                            Ortho Cresol   3.85                                                            Oxalic Acid                                    0.24                                                                               0.02                        Para-Tertiary Butyl Phenol                         21.60                       Para-Tertiary Octyl Phenol             19.93                                   Phenol         43.22                                                                               38.86                                                                               32.93                                                                               36.95                                                                               18.77                                                                              19.93                                                                              40.65                                                                              52.37    100.0                  Phosphoric Acid                                         0.61                   Propylene Oxide                                         121.5                  Sulfuric Acid                                      2.76                        Triethylamine                                           7.2                    Urea (Shotted)                     7.72                                        Urea Formaldehyde                  23.84                                       Water          1.51 1.16 15.57     0.63    1.63                                                                               0.48                                                                               27.77                       Xylene                                             21.21                       __________________________________________________________________________      *In Resole Rj, the phenol, formaldehyde and 2.5 parts of triethanolamine       were first reacted. This product is then oxypropylated with the remaining      specified ingredients.                                                   

                                      TABLE VI                                     __________________________________________________________________________                   Novolac Resin Formulations                                                     Resin                                                            Raw Material  a    b    c    d    e    f    g    h                             __________________________________________________________________________     Ammoniacal Liquor            2.31                                              Aniline                 43.92                                                  Beta Naphthol                                    37.80                         Butyl Acid Phosphate                   0.02                                    Castor Oil    36.77                                                            Caustic Soda                           0.01                                    Ethylene Oxide                         36.68                                   Formaldehyde (37.2%)                                                                         6.67 40.62                                                                               54.32                                                                               22.92                                                                               34.70                                                                               16.98                                                                               19.72                                                                               35.95                         Furfural                          3.30                                         Isobutyraldehyde                            17.42                              Lime                              0.14      0.48                               Limonene      19.19                                                            Linseed Oil   24.26                                                            Maleic Anhydride                       0.02                                    Sodium alkylaryl sulfonate                                                                        0.01      0.06      0.01 0.12                               p-Octyl Phenol               73.95                                             Oxalic Acid   0.17 0.03      0.74                0.53                          Stearic Acid                      1.10                                         Sulphuric Acid                                                                               0.08      0.88                0.61                               Water         0.67 0.59 0.88      0.28      0.96 1.06                          Xylene                            5.58                                         Phenol        22.16                                                                               58.45          54.91                                                                               45.85                                                                               60.68                                                                               24.67                         __________________________________________________________________________ 

We claim:
 1. A friction particle consisting essentially of the non-catalyzed product of the reaction at about 225° to about 400° Fahrenheit of about 95 to about 60 percent by weight of a non-hydroxyalkylated, alkylated hydroxy aromatic hydrocarbon aldehyde resole containing substantially no etherified aromatic hydroxyl groups with about 5 to about 40 percent by weight of a hydroxyalkylated hydroxy aromatic hydrocarbon-aldehyde novolac until the product is substantially insoluble in acetone, infusible, and does not soften slightly under mechanical force at a temperature below about 400° Fahrenheit and has substantially no cohesive or bonding strength, wherein the alkylated groups of said alkylated resole are selected from the groups consisting of:a. alkyl groups of 1 to 60 carbon atoms. b. cycloalkyl groups of 5 to 12 atoms. c. alkyl, aryl and cycloalkyl ketonic groups wherein the hydrocarbon portion is as defined in (a) and (b). d. alkyl, aryl and cycloalkyl carboxylic groups wherein the hydrocarbon portion is as defined in (a) and (b). e. aryl groups of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, and f. aryl substituted alkyl wherein the aryl is phenyl, lower alkyl-substituted phenyl or hydroxy substituted phenyl.
 2. The particle of claim 1 wherein said resole in the particle is the condensation product of phenol and formaldehyde in an alkaline medium.
 3. The particle of claim 1 wherein the said novolac in the particle is the condensation product of phenol and formaldehyde in an acid medium.
 4. The composition comprising the friction particle of claim 1 and a resin binder therefor.
 5. A brake lining comprising the cured product of the friction particle of claim 1, a resin binder, and an inorganic filler.
 6. A brake lining comprising the cured product of about 30 to 60 weight percent asbestos fiber, up to 40 weight percent other inorganic fillers and abrasives, about 5 to 15 weight percent of the particle of claim 1, and about 15 to 30 weight percent binder. 